Lija: S. Agius, D. Okeke, J. Scerri (E. Azzopardi), G. Lanzon (N. Zammit), M. Gatt, D. Scerri. G. Camenzuli, G. Barry, P. Camilleri, J. Vella, Z. Anicic.
St Patrick: A. Camilleri, M. Pullicino, R. Cassar, D. Gauci, M. Fleri Soler, M. Tanti, C. Micallef (S. Dimech), T. Caruana (L. Bartolo), P. Chizoba Anizoba (G. Failla), S. Zerafa. D. Chima.
Referee: K. Azzopardi, Ass. referees: I. Spiteri, A. Camilleri Fourth official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: C. Dozie 2, M. Tanti 2, G. Barry
Yellow cards: D. Okeke
Player of the match: Mark tanti (St Patrick)
TMI best three: 1. M. Tanti, 2. T. Caruana, 3. C. Dozie
St Patrick revived their hopes of avoiding relegation when they beat hapless Lija yesterday and relegate their opponents mathematically in the process.
The Saints took off to a superb start and built a two goal lead in the span of just eight minutes and from then onwards never looked back as they administered the proceedings and kept Lija at bay to take the three points that mattered.
For St Patrick, avoiding the drop will be a mammoth task and it will not only depend upon their results. But on yesterday’s performance they can at least hope to beat Pieta and try to bridge the gap which still remains hard.
Yesterday, they played very well. Organised in defence with Robert Cassar leading well at the back, they had their midfield and attack mainly to thank.
Thomas Caruana and Mark Tanti were always prominent with their fine passing, good control of the ball. The latter scored an important goal and also set the third for Chima.
Chima and Chizoba Anizoba were always dangerous in attack and procured a lot of damage to the Lija rearguard which seemed stunned especially in those opening minutes when the match was practically decided.
One would have expected Lija to fight harder given that the match was a crucial one for them. They were never in the match and their attack left much to be desired as they ended up rarely if ever testing goalkeeper Camilleri.
With just 37 paid up spectators watching the game as the referee whistled for the first time, St Patrick went out on the attack and after five minutes Dozie Chima put them in the lead when he hit home from inside the area to the joy of his team mates.
Barely had the referee time to jot the name in his notebook when the Saints struck again. Caruana effected some good work and took a cross which was met by Tanti who hit home for a quick second.
At the other end, Lija tried to get back into the match immediately and off a Camenzuli swinging shot from outside the area, Camilleri had to dive splendidly to turn the ball to corner in difficulty.
Lija suggered a huge blow in the 21st minute when they were forced to make a substitution after Lanzon was injured in a tussle with Dozie and had to be replaced soon after.
Camenzuli again tried his luck from a distance in the 29th minute but his shot sailed over the bar.
Dozie missed a glorious sitter off a Micallef cross in the 36th minute when he headed wide when free and unhampered.
On the change of ends Chizoba Anizoba should have passed to Dozie rather than attempt a shot at goal. His effort went wide when in an ideal position.
The Saints sealed the issue beyond any doubt in the 66th minute. Caruana set Chima through with an astute pass and the latter hit a low shot past a helpless Agius to add a second to his tally.
Lija pulled one back in 75th minute when off a Gatt cross, Barry headed the ball home despite a desperate attempt by a St Patrick defender to clear the ball in extremis.
However, St Patrick soon restored their three goal lead. In the 83rd minute Caruana entered the area and was floored by goalkeeper Agius. From the resultant spot kick, Tanti, clearly the man of the match scored despite the desperate attempt of Agius to keep the ball out.